text:
Connect with gaming and metaverse leaders online at GamesBeat Summit: Into the Metaverse 3 this February 1-2. Register here.
Apple’s new subscription streaming service, Apple Music, launched with the release of iOS 8.4 Tuesday morning. The service, which also includes a live radio service and an artist social networking platform, was announced at Apple’s developer conference earlier this month.
The new service is available on iOS (iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch), and will become available on the Mac and PC via an iTunes update. This fall, Apple Music will also launch on Apple TV and Android phones.
Apple Music costs $9.99 per month after a three-month free trial. There’s also a family plan, where six people can get access for $14.99 per month. The first three months of that will also be free. Apple’s Eddy Cue said there will soon also be new versions of iTunes for iOS and OS X, as well as versions for Windows and Android (later this year).
All the services you see on iTunes today still exist, and now Apple has bolted on the subscription, live radio, and social elements. The live streaming radio service is called Beats 1, and the artist social media site is called iTunes Connect.
On the iPhone, the new Music app consists of five major sections — For You, New, Radio, Connect, and My Music. We’ll take these one at a time below. On the desktop, the new Apple Music services will be integrated into the design of the existing iTunes app in future versions of OS X.
- It already has millions of iTunes user credit card numbers on file, so signing up for the service would be relatively friction-free.
- Apple may end up having more music to offer than its streaming music rivals. Apple is expected to offer content from all the major label groups, although reports say those deals haven’t yet been signed.
Apple will likely try to buy content exclusives from megastars like Pharrell, in the same way it has already done with the latest U2 record.
Some observers believe that an arms race is brewing in which Spotify, Google, Apple, and others will try to outbid each other for exclusive record releases. If, for example, the next Pharrell record is available only from Apple Music, some consumers may be compelled to sign up and will use Spotify or Google less.
VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Discover our Briefings.


text:
Preston Christmas Lights Celeb Switch-on 17 November The Christmas lights were officially lit by a line up of celebs last night. X-Factor winner Matt Cardle and opera singer Russell ‘the […]9 years ago The Continental brings the Tundra Bar to Preston Flag Market
The Continental hits Preston Town Centre! A fascinating new idea to bring early Christmas cheer and raise your spirits while Xmas shopping for that last present. The fabulous Tundra Bar […]9 years ago Free parking at County Hall in Preston for Christmas
The County Council have opened up the Arthur Street car park at the County Hall, which has space for 136 cars, to Christmas shoppers for free. The free parking is […]9 years ago Merry Christmas from Blog Preston
Blog Preston is fast approaching its third birthday, but before we blow out the candles on the cake we’ve got a Christmas to get through. We’d like to take a […]10 years ago Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Is Phil Brown the man to save PNE?
There’s no doubt that Phil Brown has a big job to save Preston North End from relegation. But he’s no stranger to the current situation the Whites find themselves in. […]11 years ago Merry Christmas from Blog Preston
With snow still on the ground it’s that time of year again, Christmas. A chance to kick back and relax, sip a glass of mulled wine and catch up with […]11 years ago Seven Tips For Christmas Family Fun in Preston
Stuck for things to do with the kids over Christmas? Don’t fear, we have the lowdown on what’s on over the festive period.11 years ago Santas put on their running shoes for charity
Runners took to the street for Preston’s annual Santa Dash for festive fun and fundraising. The Santa Dash attracted a host of participants to the Flag Market with the younger […]11 years ago Most Discussed

domain: news


text:
(Photo by Stephen Babcock)
Inside the Startup Nest in Carroll-Camden on Thursday night, the latest Baltimore edition of Black Girl Ventures’ Boss Up pitch competition brought five founders together.
The event series, founded by D.C. entrepreneur Shelly Bell as part-pitch competition, part-crowdfunding campaign, held its first Baltimore event in 2017. The event doesn’t have judges like traditional pitch competitions. Rather, attendees both fund and pick the winner through live voting. Plus, the audience gets a chance to ask questions.
— Black Girl Ventures (@BGirlVentures) May 17, 2018
Here’s a look at the pitches:
- PineAPPL: Tia Goodson is creating a platform to connect people with textured hair to each other, and retailers that carry products for them. Goodson came away as the winner of the competition, chosen by attendees.
- New Secrets Tea: Newnew Norton developed a luxury tea brand that aims to deliver wellness through all natural tea, herbs and other ingredients. Currently, the company’s offerings are available at BWI.
- My Open Chair: Alicia Holliday is building a platform allowing salon owners to post available chairs, and allowing licensed stylists to rent the space.
🗣TRY IT TUESDAY!!!!
BOOK A CHAIR at our Headquarters and experience what other stylists are RAVING ABOUT!!! #flexibility #freedom all while being apart of a #community #dmvsalon #hairstylist #dmvhairstylist #travelinghairstylist #mobilestylist #tryittuesday #tuesdaymotivation pic.twitter.com/RxfIgnZs5D
— OpenChair (@myopenchair) May 8, 2018
- Ben ah Fox Boutique: Gail Williams is growing an accessory business, with plenty of offerings to browse on Instagram.
- Jazmine Kionna is bringing comfort to high-heeled shoes with a built-in shock absorbent gel and memory foam insole that conforms to the foot. Kionna passed around a prototype at the event.
9 impact models built at GiveBackHack Baltimore to spread art, music and support for refugees
Baltimore’s b.well Connected Health honored as ‘Top Innovator’ at Accenture’s global health startup competition
Biotrophics picks up $25K at farm and fish accelerator’s demo day
Arrive ready to grow at 14 West
MADTECH, a Maryland company using drones to help farmers, wins AgPitch 2018
With a pitch for crowd manufacturing, FranciePants wins Open Works’ EnterpRISE Venture competition
FounderTrac Demo Day funded startups working in biotech and barber shops
The Washington Post is reprogramming the way news breaks
Sign-up for daily news updates from Technical.ly Baltimore


text:
According to reports the social media platform Twitter has been deleting millions of fraudulent accounts per day, and stated during the first week of July that it suspended more than 70 million accounts throughout May and June. However, the cryptocurrency industry is still plagued by tons of ‘ETH scam-bots’ pretending to be bitcoin luminaries and this scheme has made these particular fraudsters millions.
Twitter Says The Company Has Suspended 70 Million Phony Accounts, But Bots Still Plague the Twitter-Sphere
Over the last few weeks, news.Bitcoin.com had written about the various Twitter scams and fake Ethereum giveaways that can be found throughout lots of conversations within the cryptocurrency industry. Some developers have even been working on cryptographic solutions that can weed out the vast amount of lookalike Twitter scammers. The massive amount of phony accounts use a person’s profile picture, the same username, and these frauds typically jump into a conversation following a hot tweet and push their ETH giveaways.
An example giveaway is you give them 5 ETH, and they say they will give you 50 ETH in return after the funds are sent. This particular trick, even though it’s pretty obvious to some people, has been able to help these imposters acquire millions of dollars worth of Ethereum. Then just last week Twitter detailed to the media that they have thrown the ban-hammer down on fake accounts and have been suspending millions a day.
According to the Washington Post, the social media giant suspended 70 million accounts throughout May and June. Even though in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, these bots or spammers are in full force impersonating cryptocurrency figures, executives, and even digital asset exchanges like Binance. Yet the bot problem has also plagued movie stars, musicians, and political parties as well. A researcher from a Palo Alto-based think tank, Samuel C. Woolley, believes Twitter should be doing more to prevent spammers and bots.
“When you have an account tweeting over a thousand times a day, there’s no question that it’s a bot,” said Woolley, at the Digital Intelligence Lab at the Institute for the Future.
Twitter has to be doing more to prevent the amplification and suppression of political ideas.
Crypto-Luminaries, Bigwigs, and Exchanges Are Not Giving Away 200 ETH
Even though Twitter claims they have been banning millions of fake accounts the problem is still happening within the cryptocurrency industry. Lots of ‘cryptocurrency bigwigs’ are being copied by look-alike accounts still to this day. For instance, on July 15 the writer and speaker Andreas Antonopoulos shared a tweet of one of his latest talks. After the tweet, a phony “CZ” pretending to be the CEO of Binance states:
A nеw prоmоtion with suppоrt is available tоday Get 200 ETHEREUM in your wallet now. You саn use аnу wallet or exchange (Fоr example: Coinbase, Binance, and others) or use a smart contract. If you’re Iate for this event, you’ll get your investment bасk immediately!
Unfortunately, the ETH scam bots are alive and well on Twitter and are still able to spawn new accounts after the company claims to have thrown down the ban hammer. For now, these cryptocurrency scammers don’t seem to be going anywhere soon.
What do you think about this situation? Do you think Twitter is doing a good job of taking care of this issue? Let us know what you think in the comment section below.
Images via Shutterstock, Pixabay, Twitter.
Want a comprehensive list of the top 500 cryptocurrencies and see their prices and overall market valuation? Check out Satoshi Pulse for all that hot market action!


text:
As a result of the ongoing pandemic, this year’s Duality program will be conducted online in conjunction with the 2021 Digital Fringe Festival. Each participating artist will be preparing a new digital offering for your viewing pleasure. This year’s participating artists include Dakota Camacho, Jacob Dayfox, Cole Forrest, Ayumi Goto, Peter Morin, and Clayton Windatt.
Duality-Firestarter 2021 Line-up:
More info coming soon!


text:
11 Most Promising EV Startups In India
Ather Energy manufactures two-wheeler electric vehicles. The company has raised $400 + million funding till date.
This prominent player offers electric ride hailing services through its mobile app. BluSmart has raised $67 million funding till date.
The company that offers its users the unique feature of swiping EV batteries at its stations. The company has raised $65 million in funding till date.
Altigreen Propulsion Labs
The company has raised $40 million in funding till date, and offers last mile transportation of all EV vehicles.
Through its app based charging stations, Charge+Zone offers OEM charging network. The company has raised $17 million in funding till date.
This startup company manufacturers two electric vehicles models, i.e. BGauss A2 & BGauss 88. The company has raised $7 million in funding till date.
Bolt, the company which is now known as Bolt.Earth, is an AI-based platform that help people to operate EVs. Bolt has raised $4 million in funding till date.
Cell Propulsion excels in developing high voltage powertrains technology for commercial vehicle use. The company has raised $4 million in funding till date.
3EV Industries manufacturers mainly in segments cross cargo & passenger vehicles. It has raised a funding of $2 million till date.
Provides mobility solutions for gig workers. The electric scooters are used by companies such as Zomato, Grofers, etc. It has raised a funding of $2 million till date.
Apart from selling electric two wheelers, company serves in both B2B & B2C segments. Also has a wide range of vehicle options. It has been funded through bootstrapped.
Visit Other Stories


text:
Mahindra and Mahindra is all set to deliver 1,000 new Mahindra Thar SUVs to the customers during the Diwali festive period. According to the automobile manufacturer, the deliveries will be made as per the sequence of bookings received for the new Thar variants that are available.
The Mahindra Thar deliveries had commenced in India on November 1. As many as 500 units of the SUV were delivered across the country on November 7 and 8. The new Thar was launched on October 2, with the bookings commencing on the same day.
The new Mahindra Thar has garnered over 20,000 bookings, with some variants now having a waiting period of five to seven months. To meet the growing demand for the SUV, Mahindra and Mahindra has decided to ramp up the production capacity from nearly 2,000 units per month to about 3,000 units every month by January 2021.
The automobile manufacturer also claims that it has put in place a 'robust' customer connect process to reach out to every customer individually and communicate their likely/exact delivery dates for the new Mahindra Thar.
"We wish our customers a 'Happy Thar-ing Diwali' during this ongoing festive season. At Mahindra, it is our endeavour to spread festive cheer to as many customers as we can. Hence following the success of our earlier mega delivery of over 500 all-new Thars across the country, we are now delighted to take it a step further and deliver 1,000 all-new Thars to mark Diwali festivities," Mahindra and Mahindra Automotive Division CEO Veejay Nakra said.
The new Mahindra Thar price starts at Rs 9.80 lakh (ex-showroom, India) and goes up to Rs 13.75 lakh (ex-showroom, India) for the top-spec variant. The SUV is available in four variants -- AX STD, AX, AX OPT and LX.
Powering the new Mahindra Thar is a 2.0-litre mStallion Turbo-GDi petrol engine that produces 150bhp and 320Nm. The customers can also opt for a 2.2-litre mHawk CRDe diesel engine that belts out 130bhp and 300Nm. Both the motors have 6-speed MT and 6-speed AT torque converter options. An AWD system is standard in the new Thar.
The notable features in the new Mahindra Thar are round halogen headlamps, front fog lamps, LED taillamps, 18-inch alloy wheels, drizzle-resistant 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, TFT MID, multi-function steering wheel, electrically-operated HVAC controls, roof-mounted speakers, TPMS and cruise control.


text:
This Will Likely Be the First of Multiple Horizon Zero Dawn DLC
In a new PlayStation blog post, Guerrilla Games Community Manager Jeroen Roding wrote to confirm the release date of Horizon Zero Dawn’s upcoming expansion. According to the post, The Frozen Wilds will officially launch on November 7, 2017.
The Frozen Wilds was revealed back during Sony’s E3 presser in June. Of the many things it promises, among them is a new journey with Aloy, new lethal machines, and new gear. Furthermore, anyone who pre-orders the DLC in the PlayStation Store will receive an exclusive avatar.
Speculation points to the likelihood that the new expansion for Horizon Zero Dawn is set in Yellowstone National Park. Storywise, it will deal with the Banuk who are mentioned throughout the campaign. Now that we have a release date, we expect more concrete information soon.
Since its release, Horizon Zero Dawn has sold over 3 million units. Thanks to its success, Guerilla Games’ won the Studio of the Year Award at the Develop Awards. This in mind, PlayStation wants to release more Horizon Zero Dawn content over the years. Therefore, you can expect The Frozen Wilds to be the first of several DLC.
Currently, players can take advantage of the game’s updated features, which include a better photo mode, New Game Plus, and more.
So let us know your thoughts. Does November 7 sound like a good release date? Will you be downloading The Frozen Wilds upon release? Let us know in the comments below.


text:
A 2023 snapshot of Canada’s global position on digital identity and concerns citizens’ have about their privacy and data security.
In order to drive economic growth and innovation across Canada, digital identity must be rooted in security, trust, and convenience so these solutions can truly benefit everyone - citizens, businesses, & government alike.
Canada's digital identity revolution: a $15 billion dollar opportunity1.
Technology is changing the way we live and transact. Digital identity is an opportunity to drive transformational growth for citizens, businesses, and public administrations.
Digital ID brings benefits for every citizen.
Fraud-proof digital credentials, improved access to public services, and increased trust in online transactions.
Governments around the globe are leading a digital transformation
Statistics represent the G20 countries 2
G20 countries that rank highest and lowest for digital competitiveness
Canadian privacy laws offer weaker protection than other leading countries, exposing the 32.1 million Canadians with paper-based IDs to increasing risk.3
Canadians support digital IDs.5
of Canadians believe it is important to have a secure and trusted digital identity to transact safely online.4
of Canadians believe it’s important for the government to move quickly to enable a trusted & secure digital ID.7
Canadians use a digital wallet on a smartphone.6
A digital identity map of Canada
A future driven by digital identity will mean different things to different governments due to differing interactions and demands on how it will ultimately be used. Because of this, the path towards launching a digital identity isn't linear and can take many routes. Three of the most common approaches include:
The need for all provinces to adopt digital identities is more urgent than ever
2022 saw a 40% increase in fraud from the previous year, resulting in a cost of $531 million.9
Account creation remains the highest entry point of consumer risk.10
The economic benefits for individuals and businesses include future-proof security, efficiency and ease of access to personal and essential services.
Advancing digital identity policies in Canada
Digital ID and Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC) a non-profit that works to develop standards and guidelines for digital identity.
Voilà Verified, under DIACC, is the first and only certification program for digital identity service compliance with the Pan-Canadian Trust Framework™ (PCTF).
The Digital Ambition Program (2022) aims to establish strict standards for trusted digital identity platform.
GCKey, allows individuals to access online government services with a secure login.
Identification sits at the heart of every interaction—online and off. Having a secure system that provides a positive user experience while improving privacy is critical.
Our goal is to create a secure, private, and digital ecosystem that unlocks billion-dollar opportunities for Canadians.
To maintain Canada's global competitiveness the time is now: speak with a digital identity consultant today.
OliuTM is a blockchain-identity management solution that makes it easy for businesses to issue, manage and verify customer credentials, digitally. Built on open (W3C) standards, OliuTM leverages identity frameworks such as the Pan-Canadian Trust Framework (PCTF) and National Trust and Identity Fundamentals to make mobility and interoperability between identity systems possible.
ProofTM is a mobile wallet that puts all your digital credentials at your fingertips. Using advanced encryption, ProofTM makes it easy for you to store, manage and share your verifiable credentials all in one place.
At ATB Ventures, we believe that digital identity is the key to unlocking a secure, private and convenient digital world. We are excited to see Canada advance and participate in the globalized digital economy.
Join us in this journey.
Let's build a trusted digital economy together.
It's more important than ever for individuals to have control over their personal information and be able to trust the companies and organizations they interact with online. As citizens, we want to make sure that our personal information is protected and that our digital identities are secure. As a country, we need to ensure that our digital identity ecosystem works cohesively and enables inclusive, economic growth for all.


text:
It is the time of the year again! CCELL was thrilled to witness the enthusiasm from Canna-isseurs across the country a few days ago in So-Cal Cannabis Cup, which was held during 4/20-4/22 in the National Orange Show Event Center in San Bernardino, California. The High Times Cannabis Cup is the world’s leading music and lifestyle festival, along with main stage music line up, live podcasts, curated food village, and lifestyle activations.
With the great live music, the greatest passion from attendees lighted up the whole event.
As it is one of the largest cannabis-related events in US, CCELL is so excited to be part of it. We will keep endorsing the development of 420 culture, and dedicating to provide more innovative technology for the industry.
Celebrate 420 with CCELL at So-Cal Cannabis CupIt is the time of the year again! CCELL was thrilled to witness the enthusiasm from Canna-isseurs across the country a few days ago in So-Cal Cannabis Cup, which was held during 4/20-4/22 in the National Orange Show Event Center in San Bernardino, California.Joe (2018-05-04)
CCELL’s Stunning Presence in MJBizCon 2017CCELL proudly presented their latest product line in the largest gathering event in cannabis industry, the MJBizCon in November 14th-17th 2017, Las Vegas. Unsurprisingly, CCELL has drawn huge attention and attracted many business interests from thousands of industrial professionals once again. Every visitor who has dropped by CCELL booth is excited to learn about such an innovative product. More and more visitors lingered around the booth being inspired by CCELL’s first-of-its-kind technology.Joe (2017-11-08)
Marijuana is legal in California now. Will an gold rush follow？Originally published on recode.net By Eric Johnson Starting today, Jan. 1, permitted businesses across California will be legally allowed to sell marijuana to people age 21 and over — the result of a 2016 ballot initiative, Proposition 64.Joe (2018-01-05)


text:
India and Germany Partners in a Changing Geopolitical Environment
The webinar was aimed at exploring the way forward for the trade relations between India and Germany in the current times. The panelists including senior Government officials from India and Germany, as well as stalwarts from the industry and associations. The opportunities of further enhancing trade relations between the two countries were brought forward by the panelists.
Date And Time


text:
Apple's successful strategy of moving a mobile OS up to a touchscreen tablet is proving popular as manufacturers look to produce tablets based on Google's Android OS. Both LG and Samsung plan to launch such products by the end of this year.
LG says that it plans to have a product ready to ship in the fourth quarter of this year, according to a Dow Jones Newswires report. Meanwhile, Samsung said that will launch a tablet with Galaxy branding in the third quarter.
These announcements come shortly after Cisco revealed plans to launch a business-oriented Android tablet in early 2011. Netbook maker MSI announced plans for a Tegra-based Android tablet earlier this year, though when we looked at the current state of such devices, none seemed ready for market.
Rumors have suggested that version 3.0 of Android is slated for release later this year and may contain features more suited to tablets, whereas Android 2.x will remain more suited to smartphones.


text:
Location : Wabbit Hole
Job/hobbies : Cayman Islands Actuary
|Subject: Retarded geriatric Bernie Sanders leads union push at Nissan plant in US South Mon Mar 06, 2017 1:06 am|| |
|One-time US presidential contender Bernie Sanders spoke in favor of unionization at a largely African-American Mississippi Nissan plant, in an appearance that doubled as Democratic outreach in the wake of Donald Trump's election.|
Sanders, who was bested by Hillary Clinton during the Democratic Party's primary, was accompanied by actor Danny Glover and other officials from the NAACP, which is the largest African-American advocacy group in the United States.
Organizers demanded that the company halt what they said was "ongoing harassment of African-American workers who are organizing to form a union."
They allege the factory's management threatened to illegally shut down the facility and terminate employment if workers unionized, and unlawfully interrogated workers.
The United Auto Workers labor union filed a complaint in May with the National Labor Relations Board claiming that Nissan was using deterrence tactics against workers who showed signs of unionizing.
Anarcho Capitalists Retail , Molyneux Cult Watch Souvenir Mall , OZschwitz Downunder BoutiqueAnarcho-Capitalists,AnCaps Forum,Anti-State,Anti-Statist,Inalienable Rights Defenders,Non-Aggression Principle,Non-Initiation of Force Principle,Rothbardians,Anarchist,Capitalist,objectivism,Ayn Rand,Anarcho-Capitalism,Anarcho-Capitalist,politics,libertarianism,Ancap Forum,Anarchist Forum,Vulgar Libertarians,Hippies of The Right,Forum for Anarcho-Capitalist,Forum for Anarcho-Capitalists,Forum for AnCap,Forum for AnCaps,Libertarian,Anarcho-Objectivist,Freedom, Laissez Faire, Free Trade, Black Market, Randroid, Randroids, Rothbardian, AynArchist, Anarcho-Capitalist Forum, Anarchism, Anarchy, Free Market Anarchism, Free Market Anarchy, Market Anarchy


text:
Desert Daze has announced two more notable acts for its October gathering — The Flaming Lips and Flying Lotus.
The eclectic festival, now in its eighth year, will happen at Moreno Beach at the Lake Perris State Recreation Area Oct. 10-13.
Desert Daze has landed the only U.S. festival appearance of The Flaming Lips, performing “The Soft Bulletin” in honor of the album’s 20th anniversary.
Meanwhile, Flying Lotus, who is about to release a new album, “Flamagra,” on May 24, will bring a 3D set to Desert Daze. (Flying Lotus did a different 3D set at the last FYF Festival in Los Angeles in 2017 and it was a wild experience.)
General admission tickets, VIP packages and camping options go on sale at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 16. General admission passes for the weekend are $259. VIP passes are $449 and $1,999. Tent camping is $99; car camping is $129 and RV camping is $299. Weekend general admission parking is $40 and VIP parking is $100. All prices are before fees and may go up as passes sell out.
Visit desertdaze.org for more information and tickets.


text:
Unless you've been living under a rock over the last few days there's a pretty good chance that you've caught a whiff of the hype surrounding a game called Flappy Bird. Launched only a short time ago, it was an instant smash hit, yet bizarrely its developer pulled it from the various app stores it sold in.
Further adding to the drama surrounding the app, claims are now coming to light that a Flappy Bird clone Flappy Bee has stolen content and artwork from a game title Bee Leader developed by a small New Zealand independent design studio called Flightless.
Adding further insult to injury, the Flappy Bee game has now hit now at #4 on local App Store charts and Flightless say that their artwork is appearing all over the web as news articles about "flappy bees" taking the #1 spot from "flappy birds" proliferate.
The whole scenario has proved devastating according to Flightless director Greg Harding.
"We're absolutely gutted about it all.
We submitted a content dispute on Saturday with Apple but no action has come of it as yet."
App developer profile pages about the author of the allegedly infringing Flappy Bee title, Michal Kacmar lead nowhere or are dead pages. Frustratingly, Flightless are still waiting for a response from Developer Relations at Apple or Apple's legal team and have yet to formally kick off any formal legal proceedings.
While Flightless say that the impact of the content theft won't directly impact on revenues, the real salt in the wound comes in the form of lost potential earnings according to Harding.
"The success of this cloned game probably doesn't directly affect our revenue, as such, but it's obviously using some of our content/IP while reaching the top 5 of the App Store, which means somewhere in the region of hundreds of thousands of downloads per day. We've looked at the game and it's absolutely stacked with ads, so the developer is no doubt generating a reasonable amount of money in daily ad revenue. "
Making matters worse, the alleged theft also throws Flightless' future plans into disarray.
"This also slightly affects our current and future plans as we've just released Bee Leader for Windows and Windows Phone prior to Christmas, and an Android release is scheduled for some time in March," says Harding.
Because vendors tend to want bragging rights over the sheer number of apps available for their platforms, knock-off clones of popular game titles tend to be a common occurrence in app stores and are more often than not considered as poor taste and laziness rather than copyright infringement. What is not so common is seeing such a game hit the top of the app store charts while it is allegedly using content sourced from another game. Perhaps the time has come for vendors to step up and do a bit of judicious vetting?


text:
"Apple paid a 906 million-ruble anti-trust fine," Russia's Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) said, confirming authorities received the funds.
The case against Apple was initiated by Kaspersky Lab, a Russian cybersecurity firm, which was deemed a national security threat by the United States in March 2022.
Kaspersky said in 2020 that Apple had blocked access to its newly-developed parental control app as the American firm was poised to launch a similar service.
Apple previously told AFP it "respectfully disagreed" with assessment that it had abused its market position. It appealed the decision but Russian courts upheld the ruling.
Apple suspended sales of its products in Russia shortly after the Kremlin deployed troops to Ukraine in February last year.
Russia in 2021 passed legislation requiring all devices with internet access sold in the country to be equipped with approved software produced by Russian companies.
Dubbed the "anti-Apple" law, the controversial bill was introduced in an effort to promote Russia's tech companies but critics said it was an attempt to tighten state control over the internet.
The Kremlin in recent years has isolated Russia from Western tech giants that it believes pose a threat to Moscow's ability to control the distribution of information among Russians.


text:
Sitedatinga ru Grannie chat no registration
And, while the decision to broadcast this might seem to make the incident even professional reasons.
As he told Isaac Likes, “It’s not that we wanted to end it on social media, we felt we had to, to make it clear that there was no scandal or anything.” It also had something to do with Fashion Week.
He is well known for photographing what have been described as 'real people.' Schuman began his site with the hopes of connecting fashion and everyday street life.
We are now offering the Smile Text Component as a separate component for Flash developers who need a smile textarea for their Flash projects.Az DGDating Lite - გაცნობის საუკეთესო შესაძლებლობაა.და შეიძლება, ბედმა გაგიღიმოთ და თქვენ იპოვით იმ ერთადერთს, რომელიც მხოლოდ თქვენთვის არის შექმნილი.იპოვეთ მეგობრები ელექტრონული ფოსტის მეშვეობით.Six months after announcing his breakup with fashion blogger Garance Dore, The Sartorialist's Scott Schuman has finally revealed why the once loved-up couple chose to call time on their highly-publicized relationship – and why they decided to officially announce their split by posting statements online.'We felt that we were fine, everything’s cool, and we’re still good friends, so we didn’t want anyone else to think or suggest otherwise,' he said.They wrote online love letters to each other, shot campaigns together, and single- (double? and I shot over the Summer in Milan, Paris, Australia and London.
Now that will do it, Install the chat as usual, when the integration page come up , chose to install PHP fusion V7.02.03.


text:
Over the years, the outside world has also criticized iOS's default home app for not being allowed to change. For example, the default email program uses Apple Mail, and the default HomePod music service uses Apple Music.
HomePod may be Spotify's default service
Recently, it is reported that Apple will allow users to change the default email application and music application, that is to say, in the future, iPhone can change the default email application to Gmail, and HomePod may also set Spotify as the default music service.
Earliest waiting for iOS 14
However, it is estimated that such a large-scale change will have to wait for the iOS 14 revision as soon as possible. The news of iOS 14 will be announced in WWDC in June this year.


text:
DJI is partnering with Shapeways, a New York City-based 3D-printing company, to challenge designers to create 3D-printed accessories for drones to improve search and rescue (SAR).
According to the companies, the challenge is to make the DJI Phantom 4 the ultimate rescue drone: With the addition of 3D-printed accessories that can improve a drone’s visibility, carry payloads and land on water, first responders could cover more area, thus cutting response times while monitoring difficult waters.
“This challenge means more lives could be saved with fewer first responders put at risk,” explains Eli Morgan Harris, DJI’s business development director. “The 3D-printed drone modification products developed through this challenge could make a huge difference – even save lives.”
The grand-prize winner and three runners-up will be announced at the New York City Maker Faire on Oct. 1, and their designs will be demonstrated on-site before being donated to the San Mateo, Calif., fire department. The winner also gets $1,000 in Shapeways printing credit and a DJI Phantom 4 drone. Runners-up get $500 in Shapeways printing credit.
Designs must be submitted by July 15. More information can be found here.


text:
Although the iPhone 13 is available with discounts on both Flipkart and Amazon, Amazon is offering a better value for it. The e-commerce platform is offering a 9 percent discount on the retail value, taking the starting price to Rs 72,900. Apart from this, it is also offering a discount of up to Rs 21,900 on phone exchange, which brings down the price of the iPhone 13 to Rs 51,000. Has been. Please note that the exchange price depends on the condition of your old phone. If the phone you want to exchange for the iPhone 13 has dents or cracks or other hardware issues, the exchange value will be reduced for you. After the flat discount and exchange offer, the price of the iPhone 13 has come down to Rs 51,000, which is the best offer you can get right now.
Would it be right to buy the iPhone 13 now?
Apple usually slashes the price of older iPhones when it launches newer models. The same is expected for the iPhone 13 as the iPhone 13 will see a price drop when the iPhone 14 launches later this year. But then, considering that the rupee has fallen to an all-time low, we can expect Apple to increase the price of the iPhone 13 after the launch of the iPhone 14. If the price of the iPhone 13 does not increase, at least the company will not reduce the price, given the global chip shortage crisis in China due to the growing epidemic in the country and the issue of supply.
It is being told that due to the global chip crisis and lockdown in China, Apple will use the old A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max, while the Pro model is expected to be the A16 Bionic chip. This is also one of the reasons why Apple may not reduce the price of the iPhone 13 later this year.
Reports suggest that shipments of the iPhone 14 Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max will be delayed by a month due to the ongoing chip shortage since the start of the pandemic. Although the release of iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro is being told on time. So, if you have been waiting to buy the iPhone 13 model for a long time, then this is definitely the right time to buy it.


text:
It seems like Electronic Arts and BioWare just can't seem to stay out of the headlines for news that sends rumblings to the stomachs and chills down the spine of gamers who are hoping for good news, but always seem to have to brace for bad news. Well, in this case, the producer on the upcoming Dragon Age has attempted to quell worries over microtransactions in the next game.
The news came courtesy of a tweet from the executive producer, Casey Hudson, on the upcoming Dragon Age game, which many are tentatively calling Dragon Age 4. Hudson posted the message on Twitter to help assuage fears about microtransactions in the upcoming game..
Hudson doesn't necessarily mention microtransactions or loot boxes or DLC, but instead talks about how there is a lot of "feedback" about the upcoming role-playing game and that it's too early to talk about the details at the moment. He does, however, address the use of the word "live" that has popped up during a recent report about the development culture taking shape for Dragon Age at BioWare.
Oftentimes "live" features relate to online features that are persistent for the lifespan of the game, such as cash shops, cosmetics, loot boxes, or content delivery mechanisms that maintain residuals in perpetuity. Hudson attempted to calm the nerves of gamers by explaining that the "live" features that have been discussed for the next entry in the Dragon Age franchise relate to storytelling structures that take place after the main story.
Even then, I'm sure some gamers are a bit perplexed as to why talks about post-story content would even enter the discussion at this point when the main story is neither disclosed nor available for purchase.
In recent times there has been such a massive focus on DLC, microtransactions and loot boxes for most AAA games that gamers have been vociferous about protesting these monetization methods more often than usual. A lot of it all came to a head with the microtransactions in Star Wars: Battlefront 2, which happened to be so pervasive to the game's core functionality and done in a way that many casual gamers saw it as a form of gambling, that even parents who don't play games began bringing their grievances to the doorstep of Disney to have the loot boxes removed. EA, under guidance from Disney, obliged.
Since then, gamers have been keeping an extremely close eye on loot box and microtransaction news in relation to EA's properties. So, of course, any discussions about "live" features appearing in an upcoming Dragon Age game has put many gamers on edge.
In the thread that Casey Hudson made on Twitter, there are still plenty of concerned gamers expressing preemptive disapproval of BioWare even considering adding microtransactions or loot boxes or heavily gated story content behind paywalls to the upcoming Dragon Age game. On the upside, some analysts believe that we'll see fewer microtransaction models in 2018 following the Battlefront 2 fiasco.
Staff Writer at CinemaBlend.
Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News
Thank you for signing up to CinemaBlend. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.


text:
More than 300 garment workers at the Shui Yat factory in Kompong Speu province’s Chbar Mon City entered a second day of strikes on Monday over the firing of two leaders of the factory’s chapter of the Free Trade Union (FTU).
The industrial action started on Saturday after the factory’s managers fired FTU factory chief Sun Vanna and deputy chief Phat On the evening before, ostensibly for leaving work early without notice, said FTU official Say Chanthou.
“The garment factory asked the workers to wait for a resolution after Water Festival,” Mr. Chanthou said of the three-day celebration, which begins today.
“I think the factory’s administration has no intention of solving this problem,” said Ms. Vanna, one of the fired workers.
“In particular, the factory does not want the workers to have a union at the factory because it will be difficult to control the workers.”
Factory administrator Oum Sothy declined to comment.


text:
Film supplier Pliant today is continuing its capital investment program for its Canadian operations. The company will invest $3 million during 2008, adding to the $4.5 million invested in 2006 and 2007 to improve its position in Canada.
Similar to initiatives currently underway in Europe, Asia and Mexico, Pliant has also initiated exciting new strategies to grow its market share in Canada. With the recent addition of a new leadership team and more focus on the needs of the Canadian marketplace, Pliant Canada will actively expand the company’s marketshare for its industry-leading meat and food wrap, pallet wrap, engineered films, personal Care, medical and printed products.
With Canadian headquarters in Orillia, Ontario and existing manufacturing facilities located in Orillia and Toronto, Ontario, Pliant will be actively seeking strategic Canadian acquisitions, as well as expanding its current sales force to better serve the domestic market, according to executives.


text:
Manufacturing is changing fast in China, says business analyst Ben Cavender to the Fast Company. Factories phase out labor for automation, and stick to more ethical standards. Although some of the less ethical producers move to countries outside China.
China’s internet companies have turned around payment systems dom estically. Now they are turning to global market, says retail analyst Ben Cavender to Cryptocoinnews. Alibaba’s Ant Financial now is setting up a war chest to conquer those global markets.
Gaining soft power is not an exclusive issue for China’s government. Jacky Chan and Wanda might be equally important for how the world sees China, says branding expert Ben Cavender to the South China Morning Post.
Getting your branding right in China remains a challenge. Consumers react different from those in your home markets. Their media consumption is different, and their online tools – where most Western ones are blocked – are very different indeed.
At the China Speakers Bureau, we can help you in developing the right strategy, by offering leading experts on branding in China. Here we offer four or them, but we have more to offer.
Rising wages have already put China in the same cost-league as Portugal and South-Africa, forcing manufacturers to low-wage countries. But that is only one challenge for a major shift in the labor market, says business analyst Ben Cavender to CNBC.
Alibaba’s Ant Financial investment of US$200 million into the Korean mobile payment service Kakao Pay illustrates how the leading Chinese payment platform want to gain global dominance, says business analyst Ben Cavender to Reuters. Buying into strong local players is smarter than competing with them.
Alibaba teamed up with brick-and-mortar retailer Bailian, in the latest effort to combine the best of two worlds. But while the idea seems to make sense, the results up to now have been meager, tells retail analyst Ben Cavender to Reuters.


text:
Posted on 25th February 2018
The UK has been warned about this week's Baltc Blast of cold weather for some time, but is your business ready for the disruption the snow and ice is likely to cause?
Posted on 8th November 2016
Once again, UK businesses are set to be disrupted by snow. So how do you manage the inevitable late arrivals, absence and transport delays.
Posted on 30th December 2015
As floods once again hit the north of England, business owners will be counting the cost of damage to property, as well as disruption to their business.


text:
Korea's Trade Commission announced the removal of the long-standing anti-dumping tariff on Japanese stainless steel bars, effective this week. The decision, influenced by domestic producers' non-extension requests, marks a shift in trade dynamics. The anti-dumping measures, in place since 2004, have significantly impacted Japanese imports, with local industry competitiveness rebounding. Similar tariff lifts on Indian and Spanish stainless steel bars are imminent, showcasing a recalibration in Korea's trade policies.
In a noteworthy development, Korea's Trade Commission has opted to lift the anti-dumping tariff on Japanese stainless steel bars that has been in effect since 2004. This decision, slated to take effect this week, is attributed to the absence of extension requests from domestic producers, including Seah Changwon Integrated Special Steel, signaling a change in trade dynamics.
Stainless steel bars, integral components in various industries such as aviation, medical instruments, and construction materials, have been subject to a 15.39 percent tariff for nearly two decades. The commission emphasized that since the imposition of the anti-dumping tariff in 2004, imports of Japanese stainless steel bars have seen a significant decline. This decline, in turn, contributed to the recovery of competitiveness within the local industry.
Government data reveals a noteworthy shift, with Korea's imports of Japanese stainless steel bars plummeting from 9,269 metric tons in 2003 to 4,303 metric tons in 2021. The removal of anti-dumping tariffs is seen as a strategic move to adapt to evolving trade dynamics and foster a more open market.
Notably, this shift in policy is not exclusive to Japanese imports. The announcement includes plans to lift anti-dumping tariffs on Indian and Spanish stainless steel bars concurrently. The move signifies a recalibration in Korea's trade policies, reflecting a willingness to reassess tariffs and promote a more balanced trade environment.
Additionally, separate anti-dumping tariffs on Taiwanese and Italian stainless steel bars are slated for removal on May 16, further underscoring Korea's commitment to fostering an open and competitive trade landscape.
Korea's decision to lift the long-standing anti-dumping tariff on Japanese stainless steel bars marks a pivotal moment in trade dynamics. The absence of extension requests from domestic producers signals a positive shift, with the move expected to enhance competitiveness within the local industry. As Korean trade policies evolve, similar tariff lifts on Indian and Spanish stainless steel bars, along with impending removals for Taiwanese and Italian counterparts, emphasize a commitment to fostering a balanced and open trade environment.


text:
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Dave Safirstein, formerly of DQ Technologies, has joined the Elite EXTRA team as a senior account manager. Jim Ward, president of Applied Data Consultants, parent company to Extra Trax and owner of Elite EXTRA, announced Safirstein’s appointment.
Safirstein has more than 30 years of experience in distribution and logistics, most recently serving as senior account manager at DQ Technologies. Prior to that, he spent 20 years at Epicor, formerly known as Activant.
Ward said that the tremendous growth of Elite EXTRA since it launched five years ago spurred the need for a sales executive like Safirstein who can keep that momentum going to take Elite EXTRA to the next level.
“We are thrilled that Mr. Safirstein has chosen to join the Elite EXTRA team,” said Ward. “His vast knowledge of the logistics industry, combined with his expertise in GPS tracking, dispatch solutions and high-tech industries, makes him a perfect fit for Elite EXTRA.”
Safirstein will be responsible for managing accounts in several industries that rely on optimal routing and GPS tracking to move their goods and services, including the automotive aftermarket and lumber and building supply industries.
“It is evident that Elite EXTRA is the wave of the future, providing the most innovative routing and tracking software in the industry,” said Safirstein. “Their focus is on delivering profitable outcomes and results for their clients using cutting-edge technology, which has propelled them to lead the pack. It is exciting to be part of that growth.”
Safirstein has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.


text:
DUBLIN, Dec. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Digital China - The Rise of Digital Giants in "Post-Covid-19 Era"" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
The outbreak of COVID-19 hinders the world economy. China was the first country affected by the pandemic crisis. Digital technology has played a vital role in fighting the virus and speeding up recovery. China was one of the rare leading countries achieving positive GDP growth in 2020.
In the post-COVID era, the country relies on "new digital infrastructure" construction to achieve its sustainable development goals.
The report is a comprehensive overview of China's digital landscape and covers a wide range of topics:
- The landscape of China's digital economy after the COVID-19 pandemic.
- How the pandemic impacts digital technologies' adoption in China.
- What is China's "new digital infrastructure" campaign? How the government fosters digital infrastructure constructions.
- The market analysis of the emerging technologies such as 5G, AI, and Industrial Internet.
- How the pandemic impacts Chinese consumer/public services markets.
Key Topics Covered:
1. Executive Summary
2. The landscape of China Digital economy development after COVID-192.1. Overview of China's status in the global economy2.2. The landscape of China's digital economy2.3. The major digital sectors' development2.4. Growth in telecom sector2.5. Impact of the COVID-19 on the business and public services market
3. Government policies support3.1. China's technologies relevant national policies3.2. China's new digital infrastructure plan
4. Chinese digital infrastructure deployment4.1. Gigabit city construction4.2. 5G deployment in China4.3. 5G industry application4.4. Telecom industry ecosystem
5. China's major digital sectors development5.1. Industrial Internet5.2. Internet of Things5.3. Cloud computing5.4. Artificial Intelligence5.5. Internet Service distribution of Chinese Internet giants5.6. E-commerce5.7. Social network5.8. Mobile Payment5.9. Short video
- China Mobile
- China Telecom
- China Unicom
- Datang Mobile
- Futong Group
- Hengtong Group
- Little Red Book
- ZTT Cable
For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/evod6a
Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager firstname.lastname@example.org For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716
View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digital-china---the-rise-of-digital-giants-in-post-covid-19-era---2021-report-comparison-of-services-provided-by-leading-cloud-suppliers-in-china-301447289.html
SOURCE Research and Markets


text:
The World Bank will be giving 1,500 crore, while 1,000 crore will be provided by the Centre. State governments will put in 500 crore.
Small towns are becoming the driving force behind e-commerce growth in the country.
UP's quest to be the first trillion-dollar state economy in India will come true soon, says Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy .
The new investment plan is in line with PepsiCo’s goal to double its snacks business in the country by 2022 and is expected to help create over 1500 jobs (direct and indirect), the company said in a statement.
"Before adding vitamins and other useful substances (flourished) in the flour, milk and salt etc, make sure to do area-specific research and supply it as per the requirements.
These disclosures were made by the UP GST office at the commemoration of two years of indirect tax’s implementation by the NDA government. The event in Lucknow was presided by chief minister Yogi Adityanath, finance minister Rajesh Aggarwal, Lucknow zone principal chief commissioner (GST) Rajeev Tandon, and joint commissioner (GST) Vivek Jain.
Steamy samosas, endless queues & tax troubles: Kachori-seller Mukesh earns over Rs 60 lakh every year
A simple shop in UP's Aligarh has left the commercial tax sleuths astounded.
The Minister said that the project would initially be implemented in one block each in the four districts of the state, including Bahraich, from the academic session beginning in July.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday, approved setting up of micro-breweries in hotels, restaurants and pubs to pave way for serving fresh beer to customers.
United Breweries' total income during the quarter under review was up 5.84 per cent to Rs 3,469.3 crore.
Food regulator FSSAI had recommended extending the ban until all labs at ports are modernised to test the chemical.
Bajaj Electricals had posted a revenue of Rs 4,716.39 last fiscal, in which EPC had contributed around 2,500 crore.
"For countries like Japan, South Korea, China and Russia, we are creating industrial clusters where they can invest and operate," Prabhu said.
The company, which operates 80 stores in tier-II and -III cities in eastern and northern India, is expected to close the current fiscal with a turnover of Rs 420 crore.
The MoU was signed in the presence of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, with Ikea represented by its country property manager David McCausland.
IKEA had signed an MoU with the Samajwadi Party government in 2015 to set up a store each in Lucknow, Agra and Noida with an investment of approximately Rs 500 crore in each.


text:
The figures revealed that 75 percent of Britons admit that they do not follow best practice by using complex passwords, with almost half (47 percent) relying on unsafe password habits such as pet names or significant dates.
To add to this insecurity, over a third (35 percent) admitted that they do not create strong passwords because they struggle to remember them and this could increasingly become an issue with 82 percent of people saying that they are managing more online accounts than a year ago.
According to the Cyber Streetwise figures, the average Briton now uses 19 passwords on a regular basis.
The government is subsequently advising users to use three words or more and add a symbol in their password to make it more secure. It also says that Britons should consider using acronyms, ‘narrative methods' (the idea of composing a story-like password) and the Loci method, which uses visualisation to organise and recall information.
In a statement released at the same time as the figures, Karen Bradley, modern slavery and organised crime minister, said that poor passwords can result in financial – and emotional – damage to citizens.
“When passwords are compromised, financial and banking details can be stolen, causing problems for the person affected, for businesses and for the economy. There is an emotional impact caused by the loss of irreplaceable photos, videos and personal emails, but even worse, these can be seized to extort money.


text:
South Korean prosecutors have indicted the founder of Uber, Travis Kalanick, for operating an illegal taxi service in the country.
The formal accusation against Kalanick and another man, a local rental car service operator, was made without physical detention. Yonhap News says that violators of the Korean law in question, which stops rental car services from offering paid passenger transport, could face a fine of up to 20 million won ($18,121), or up to two years in jail.
Uber officially launched in the South Korean capital city of Seoul in August 2013, after a test phase that began in June, but only started trialling its UberX service — which pays private drivers for using their own car as a taxi — in August this year.
The ride-sharing service faced anger from local taxi drivers, upset that amateur drivers were undercutting their fares. Where Uber doesn’t require that its UberX drivers have any special licenses, private Seoul taxi drivers can reportedly expect to pay around 70 million won ($63,477) for the proper documentation.


text:
Boiler plates are not corporate ads
Tom Dougherty, CEO – Stealing Share
10 February 2010
The Misused Boilerplate
As a brand strategy company, it is important for us to keep track of what is going on in business. So, I am constantly being bombarded with Google alerts from companies we follow. Generally, these alerts are either new product announcements or financial news.
One of the things that both angers and baffles me is the lack of attention that most companies place to their boilerplate. Sure, boilerplates are traditionally little more than an abbreviated “about us” statements, but it is amazing and sad at how generic and misused they have become.
Lets look at the medical device industry, for example. Clearly, the medical device industry as a whole has some serious problems from a brand perspective anyway. (Read two of our articles on it HERE and HERE.) But when you look at the boilerplates for those companies, it really highlights the lack of focus on a meaningful brand.
In a quick study of the boilerplates for a dozen medical device companies who are in markets from cardiac devices to prosthetic implants to monitoring devices, we discovered that 11 out of the 12 were “leaders,” half of them have a “broad range of products,” and nearly all of them are dedicated to improving or advancing patient care. What is missing is the reason a customer or an investor should choose them that goes beyond simple category descriptors. For as many press releases as these companies send out during the normal course of business, this wasted opportunity to build brand meaning is almost criminal.
But this is only a symptom of a larger problem. Most medical device companies have put insufficient focus on their brands. And the homogenized generic mess of the boilerplates are big signs telling the world that. A CEO from one of our client companies once said in an executive management meeting, “If you don’t care about yourself, no one else is going to.” For the medical device industry, at least, the boilerplate has become nothing more than a corporate advertisement for not caring about their brand.
Soderbergh Tom Dougherty, CEO - Stealing Share 21 August 2017 Soderbergh, Logan Lucky and the changing movie If you’re a film director of a certain reputation, take heart in the business decisions made by Steven Soderbergh and his newest release, Logan Lucky. The...
Cleverness in advertising stinks: Prevagen Tom Dougherty, CEO - Stealing Share 17 August 2017 Prevagen gets stupid Prevagen. The perfect example of brand masturbation. Brands try to speak directly to the emotions of prospective customers. Anything that gets in the way...
Amazon Instant Pickup Tom Dougherty, CEO - Stealing Share 16 August 2017 Is Amazon Instant Pickup just an automat? Amazon is doubling down on its push into traditional brick and mortar with its new Amazon Instant Pickup service for Prime and Student Prime members. The...


text:
Be Mobile Africa has launched their new multi-currency business banking platform for businesses in Africa. The platform will enable customers to apply for and open USD and EUR business accounts within 48 hours, without the need to visit a bank branch in person.
The neobank’s new service will provide businesses with an easy way to manage their finances and expand their operations into new markets. Businesses will be able to hold, send and receive money in ZAR, USD and EUR as well as several emerging African market currencies.
In a press release, Be Mobile Africa added that business customers will also be able to earn 5% interest per annum in USD or EUR as part of the savings offering and will also be able to carry out flexible real-time transactions in various currencies through preferred payment gateways including local EFT in South Africa, SWIFT and SEPA.
Speaking on the product launch, Be Mobile Africa’s CEO, Dr Cédric Jeannot stated that the company is committed to helping African businesses grow and compete in the global market.
“The biggest benefit we see here is the ability for businesses to access EUR and USD accounts. Offering our customers the opportunity to transact in these currencies removes one of the biggest barriers to doing business on the continent,” he added.
The Canada-based neobank launched in South Africa last month with a promise to make banking accessible to the unbanked and underbanked in the country.


text:
Eight months into a global pandemic, everyone is finding themselves with new habits. A new survey from CVS Pharmacy and The Harris Poll has dug deep and found a not-so-surprising fact: Americans are snacking more at home!
The online survey conducted in July 2020 has found that 66 percent of American adults report an increase in at-home snacking, with 50 percent choosing “better-for-you snacks” more often than they did before the pandemic. So what else did the survey find?
photo: Sheila Pedraza Burk via Burst
Fifty-three percent of Americans choose pre-made meal solutions to make things easier, 56 percent of those buying healthy snacks lean towards nuts and trail mixes and almost the same percent pick up snack bars.
Other findings include an ranking affordability, variety of flavors and nutritional benefits as being of top importance.


text:
In September, Verizon promised Google's Nexus 7 would come to its LTE network "shortly." Now it has introduced an LTE-capable tablet. What gives? Crave's Eric Mack went looking for answers.
See how the iPad Mini 2 stacks up against 2013's popular 7-inch tablets.
Treat your Google Nexus 5 or Nexus 7 to a new look with 25 per cent off cases and sleeves on Google Play.
Prior to the Nexus 7, Android tablets were adrift, failing to fight the might of Apple's iPad. Now, Adventures in Tech explains how Google got its first tablet right.
The Google Nexus 5 costs £295, and comes with a free 2012 Google Nexus 7 tablet at Carphone Warehouse.
Android 4.4 KitKat is slimmed down, according to Google, so it should work on a broader range of old phones.
The HP Slate 7 costs less than the Nexus 7, but with a lack of features and a low-resolution screen, does it undercut Google's tablet enough to justify a purchase?
The wired dock costs $50, while a wireless version will set you back $90.
Leaked photos of the rumoured tablet have shown up online, also suggesting the upcoming slate will be capable of making calls.
A new software update also provides Verizon LTE support for cellular-enabled versions of the tablet.


text:
We love swimming pools as much as anyone, obviously. They’re our livelihood. But swimming pools in video games? Honestly, that isn’t something that has ever occurred to us. However, apparently more people do care about video game swimming pools. They care A LOT.
By “they,” we mean thousands of people. No joke.
A little backstory: There is a popular video game series called The Sims, a “life simulation” spinoff of a game from the late 80s called SimCity. In the series of Sims games, “The player creates virtual people called ‘Sims’ and places them in houses and helps direct their moods and satisfy their desires. Players can either place their Sims in pre-constructed homes or build them themselves.”
So, the developers of the latest sequel, Sims 4, announced last month that the new game wouldn’t be including swimming pools (or toddlers) as options that could be incorporated into players’ towns. It turns out that fans of the games really, REALLY like swimming pools, as indicated by a flood of angry posts on Twitter, Facebook, and other sites. An online petition at Change.org currently has 17,444 signatures.
Seriously. No no. Seriously. Since June 25th, 17 and a half thousand people have petitioned the makers of the game to bring back their much-loved swimming pools and toddlers. Since writing began on this blog post, another 19 people have signed it.
We’re a little baffled by this, but hey, if people love swimming pools that much, who are we to judge? We of all people can appreciate just how awesome swimming pools are.


text:
Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Jonas Junias Jonas, could be in line for some rich pickings after several companies reportedly expressed interest in working with the young boxing sensation.
Although details remain sketchy, the Windhoek Observer understands that several companies have approached the boxer with the view to work with him as their brand ambassador who won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Ohorongo Cement is one of the companies that have expressed an interest to form a partnership with Jonas.
This weekend, the boxer will make an appearance as the cement maker’s brand ambassador during a one-day promotion event at Crown Built It in the Northern industrial area in Windhoek.
Ohorongo Cement Marketing Manager, Carina Sowden, told the Windhoek Observer that the partnership is their way of celebrating Jonas’ achievement at the Commonwealth Games especially after the difficulties he went through in Brazil in 2016, when he was charged for attempting to sexually assault an Olympic village housekeeper.
“With all these negativities against him, we chose him because Jonas has strength and we at Ohorongo Cement are winners, meaning the two go hand in hand.
“Ohorongo provides international quality and strength, which is also another reason why we chose Jonas, as he is the epitome of strength. Only one beats Jonas on strength, and that is Ohorongo Cement,” Sowden said.
She said if the weekend event goes well, there is a possibility that a similar promotion will be held in the northern part of the country.
Jonas told the Windhoek Observer that he is happy to be associated with a big brand like Ohorongo Cement.
“I am very much happy to be the brand ambassador of Ohorongo Cement. There are some few companies that have approached me to be their ambassador, but I cannot reveal their names now because we have not yet finalised the deals,” he said.
Jonas (24), who has no scheduled fights until next year, is also an upcoming entrepreneur as he runs a small business at his parents’ house in Swakopmund.
“I run my own small trading business at home. It has been operating for nearly three years now.”
He said winning the gold medal has not changed him “at all because I remain who I am”.


text:
Alibaba Hong Kong IPO postponed due to unrest
The planned US$15 billion Alibaba Hong Kong IPO has been postponed due to continuing political unrest in the city.
The firm’s stance towards the issue is being taken by observers as indicative of the general mood of both mainland businesses and the Beijing administration towards Hong Kong.
Alibaba made the decision at a board meeting last week noting financial and political instability in the area. A new schedule for the listing has yet to be established, pending an improvement in the situation.
“It would be very unwise to launch the deal now or anytime soon,” said an anonymous source familiar with the board’s thinking on the matter. “It would certainly annoy Beijing by offering Hong Kong such a big gift given what’s going on in the city.”
The Alibaba Hong Kong IPO would likely be the world’s largest listing this year when it proceeds. It follows the sale of an 11-per-cent stake in Alibaba by Yahoo offshoot Altaba earlier this year.


text:
Team Tiger effectively led the KYB-CONMAT Pvt. Ltd. stall at India's biggest event for logistics, warehousing and supply chain industry held at New Delhi from 2-4th May 2013. The display of the complete range of storage system, attractive space-planning and brilliant design of 972 sq. ft. stall earned recognition for the company in the industry circuit.
Team Tiger effectively led the Kemrock stall from concept to commissioning at the ICERP 2013 exhibition held at Mumbai from 4-6th April 2013. The attractive space-planning and design of this 1510 sq. ft. stall earned recognition for the company in the industry circuit.
Tiger Roars once again with its award winning stall for ONGC at FGI Expo 2013 – Agro Summit. Conceptualised around theme of ‘V’ for victory, this 64 sq. mt stall displays ONGC’s progress as India’s leading energy explorer and as a corporate that undertakes drilling activities in harmony with nature.
The Tiger Team takes pride in sharing its Voting Campaign based on the trend of Social Networking websites and apps – something the youth can instantly connect to.
At the same time, it inspires them to vote and choose the government they believe in. The hoardings put up across Vadodara are already being clicked, ‘liked’ and ‘shared’ among its citizens.
eam Tiger’s conceptual, design and execution brilliance comes to the fore at Petrotech 2012 - the industry’s most prestigious exhibition.
The over 6000 sq. ft. ONGC pavilion takes the exhibition theme of ‘Hydrocarbons and Beyond’ to another level through a path breaking ‘Spiral design’. An innovative interplay of wood, fabric and lightings it is flowing with seamless energy and high tech features like a fog screen with multimedia laser projection. To further highlight the event theme, the team has also developed, designed and executed a live, buzzer format, sustainability quiz at the pavilion.
Tiger organized a Press Conference to unveil the Gold Costume and Accessories exhibit as part of the Antique Jewellery Festival at CH Jewellers. The event was not only well-received but also garnered an excellent coverage across all media.
The core idea of the initiative of 'save water' campaign is to employ a Bollywood headline and draw the reader’s attention towards water conservation. The headline eventually leads to the actual message, where we show a running tap with the line, ‘Running successfully till water runs out’. The campaign depicts the fact that we are approaching towards a future where we would run out of water.
The first ad of the ‘save water’ campaign, the core idea of this initiative is to employ a Bollywood headline and draw the reader’s attention to the actual message, where we show a running tap with the line, ‘Running successfully till water runs out’. The line reiterates the fact that we are approaching towards a future where we would run out of water.


text:
Tata nano lx 2012 (final report) 8 th oct 2013 4:33 pm 18 months and 7,400km later, it’s time to say goodbye to the baby of the fleet. Tata motors has given the nano its biggest update till date the car now gets an automatic gearbox along with a. The case discusses the making of tata nano, the world's cheapest car, manufactured by india based tata motors on march 30, 2009, tata nano was launched with an ex. India’s the economic times reports that tata motors will offer a diesel engine developed with fev on the nano (earlier post) the small diesel being developed by. Tata motors “nano” “the one lakh car that drives one billion dreams” marketing project submitted by:- contents 1. Leading car manufacturer company tata launched the cheapest car tata nano in will manufacture the modelas per the media reports, tata will only supply.
Coimbatore-based jayem automotives to build tata nano-based electric cars with powertrains from indian specialist firm electra ev first batch of 400 cars to be. Tata motors greenness is awesomeness - new genx nano with. Tata motors announced that it will begin accepting orders for its $1,980 nano “people’s car” on april 9th (no relation to the apple ipod nano) the ultra-affordable nano promises to make. Find 2018 tata nano price in india read nano review from experts get ⛽ mileage, pictures(interiors), colors, specifications, on road price, variants details.
Taxi-aggregator ola will add 400 tata nano electric which is expected no 'tata' tag for electric nano, reports nano to make a comeback with electric model. A news report suggests india's tata motors is planning to export its nano -- a tiny, four-passenger city car -- to the states but will us buyers bite.
In late march tata finally launched its nano in india, instantly taking the title of world's cheapest car with its sub-$2,000 price tag then word emerged that the. Read this essay on feasibility report on launching the “tata nano” in the united states come browse our large digital warehouse of free sample essays get the. Tata motors may soon stop investing in nano which was launched by ratan tata in 2009 as the ‘world’s cheapest car’, according to a ‘business line’ report.
Case study on tata nano sunday the tata nano was heralded as the start of an era naac report nirf report academic calendar. Yes, i am writing a nano ownership report no, i did not exchange it for my punto this time we got it for my elder sister my sister was in need of a new. Promoted as the ‘the cheapest indian car’, the tata nano could be discontinued in india it has caused the losses of over rs 1,000 crore to the company.
The autocar india report says that the launch will happen in hyderabad and prime minister narendra modi is expected to launch the revamped version of tata nano. Contents 1 introduction 3 2 tata nano specifications 8 3 tata nano flashbacks 9 4 the bass model 11 5 the life cycle of tata nano car: some. Oct 6, 2017 - 3:04pm ist filed under tata nano, tata motors full electric tata nano to launch in india later this year – report. The tata nano is a city car manufactured by tata motors currently made and sold news reports have detailed the underwhelming response of the indian consumer. Highlights tata motors will retain two platforms and base newer models on them nano, indica, indigo cs and sumowill be phased out in next three to four. The tata nano will ride on a clutch of innovative marketing ideas when it rolls into showrooms across the country the rs 1 lakh car, which broke new ground in design. A study on“consumer perception and future potential for tata nano” submitted in partial fulfillm.


text:
The cloud communications company has a run rate surpassing $2.6 billion.
The company also raised its outlook for the first quarter.
T-Mobile also raised its 2021 merger synergies outlook.
Fortinet delivered second quarter revenue of $801.1 million, up 29.7% from a year ago.
However, Amazon's cloud business AWS, which is responsible for most of Amazon's operating income, saw its growth rate accelerate.
The way that we will work has potentially changed forever. The way that we will interact with companies has also changed. Our customers have even greater expectations for rapid service and instant and meaningful interactions over digital platforms, and that is what is driving a new wave of innovation in cloud contact centre services.
Prezi CEO Jim Szafranski said video conferencing, messaging and collaboration tools must "coexist seamlessly."
Daphné Leprince-Ringuet says remote working is driving employees out of the most established technology hubs. Where are they going next?
Apple's latest iPhone 12 accessory extends your phone's battery life, but is it worth the $99 price tag?
In the new semester, students will need a laptop suitable for campus and distance learning. Here are some of the best laptops on offer.
Google, IBM, Microsoft, Amazon are all looking into it, but quantum computing is still widely misunderstood. This is everything you need to know about the next stage of computing, and everything that it could unlock.


text:
Google poised to release Apple CarPlay rival this month
Unnamed sources are reporting to Automotive News that Google will unveil its very own challenger to Apple's new CarPlay in-car operating system later this month at the Mountain View, CA company's annual developer conference. The system, allegedly called Google Auto Link, will be the first product to come from the Open Automotive Alliance, a partnership between Google, General Motors, Hyundai, Audi, Honda and hardware manufacturer NVIDIA.
The official announcement is expected to be made on either June 25 or 26, at the Google I/O conference in San Francisco. Expect to hear a lot more about Google Auto Link then.
- Biggest automotive sales disappointments
- Fastest-depreciating cars in the United States
- Find and compare 2017 Models


text:
CITY LODGE HOTELS INTERIM RESULTS FOR H22023: THE GROUP SEES STRONG RECOVERY, OVERCOMES PANDEMIC CHALLENGES, AND EYES SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.
City Lodge Hotels has posted robust interim results for the six months ending December 2023, signaling a strong recovery from pandemic challenges. Revenue soared to R1.0 billion, marking an 18% increase from 2022.
Group occupancy witnessed a notable uptick, rising by 4 percentage points to 61%, outperforming the pre-COVID levels by six points. Earnings per share (EPS) saw a significant surge of 10%, reaching 18.8c. Excluding certain factors, EPS showed a remarkable 66% increase, reaching 20.0c.
City Lodge Interim Results
Here are the insights of City Lodge Interim Results for H2 2023:
Revenue Growth and Financial Position
The revenue surge is attributed to a 16% increase in accommodation revenue and 36% rise in food and beverage revenue. The group’s net cash position strengthened to R54.6 million, marking a turnaround from the net debt of R52.1 million in 2022.
Despite economic challenges, the strategic adoption of best available rates (BAR) and an improved food & beverage offering contributed to the overall revenue surge.
Dhanisha Nathoo, CFO, emphasized the group’s financial position, having access to R600.0 million in available debt facilities. The group remains optimistic about its strategy and the country’s recovery, maintaining confidence amid economic uncertainties.
The City Lodge’s approach to balancing cost control and strategic investments in refurbishments and marketing initiatives has contributed to its financial resilience.
Operational Highlights and Future Initiatives
City Lodge Hotels showcased its commitment to sustainability with solar installations, water supply resilience strategies, and energy-efficient initiatives. The group achieved a 3% increase in EBITDAR and a 10% rise in profit for the period.
In line with its strategy, the group repurchased shares and declared an interim cash dividend of 6.00 cents per share.
While optimistic about the recovery, CEO Andrew Widegger acknowledged challenges posed by the South African economy, including low GDP growth and inflation. The pending government elections have introduced uncertainty, impacting business and consumer confidence.
City Lodge Hotels anticipates stable power supply and reduced utility usage post the completion of sustainable energy initiatives. The sale of City Lodge Hotel Sandton, Katherine Street, is in progress, promising further strategic reinvestment.


text:
The rumours were true, the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ is now official and it's got designs on rivalling the iPhone 6 Plus for the mantle of phablet supremacy.
As well as featuring the same dual edge-encompassing display technology as its little brother, the new device plays host to a near identical specs sheet to the existing handset.
Lining up alongside the phone's 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED display is the 64-bit octa-core Exynos 7420 processor that debuted within the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge.
A familiar 16-megapixel, OIS-enhanced primary camera can be found around the back, with an integrated LED flash and 4K video recording capabilities, while a 5-megapixel secondary shooter sits up front.
All of this is slotted alongside 4GB of RAM - a step up on its predecessors - within the 6.9mm thick, 153g device.
Due to the phone's S6-copying metal and glass design, neither the 32GB nor 64GB storage option can be expanded via microSD. The phone's lack of a removable rear also means that the 3,000mAh quick-charging battery can't be removed.
Although pricing has yet to be confirmed, don't expect the S6 edge+ to come cheap when it hits retailers in the coming weeks.
Set to arrive in the US and Samsung's native Korea later this month, the phone will go on sale in the UK on September 4 following a pre-brief launch on August 18, so just before we're expecting the iPhone 6S then.


text:
By Chris Nicholls
SYDNEY: Nintendo has announced it sold 133,691 DS handheld consoles and 73,318 Wii consoles over December, according to GfK figures released today.
The Wii’s Christmas sales through-put made it the second highest selling console behind Nintendo DS for the Christmas period.
According to the figures, the Nintendo DS also took out the title of biggest selling console of 2007, with 509,869 sold.
The December sales splurge also pushed the DS over the one million unit mark after 153 weeks on sale. The Wii also reached the 300,000 unit mark, 58 weeks after its launch. Both figures make both the DS and Wii the fastest selling consoles to reach these milestones.
The console and game maker also crowed about its game success, with Nintendo games taking out six of the top ten titles of the year.
“We are finding that people who have not played video games before are now enjoying playing Nintendo DS and Wii, which has resulted in the sales results revealed by GfK Australia”, said Nintendo Australia managing director Rose Lappin.
2008 will see a number of new games for the consoles, including Professor Kageyama’s Maths Training: The Hundred Cell Calculation Method, available February 7, and Chibi-Robo! Park Patrol and Naruto Ninja Destiny on Nintendo DS mid-March.


text:
The Internet Retailing Conference 2016 (IRC2016) is, of course, focusing on mobile and its growing role in retailing and there are already some interesting retailers lined up to talk about the trails they are blazing.
The key theme within the mobile track – much more aptly titled ‘Engage’ – showcases how today mobile is the key to what all retailers want: engagement and personalisation with their customers.
Opening the debate with his engaging keynote, Jack Smith, Group Digital Director, New Look tackles the vital issue of joining the dots between mobile, customer experience and business performance.
“10 years ago mobile was nowhere, now it’s EVERYWHERE – connecting consumers to products and driving e-commerce forward at a seemingly explosive rate,” he says. “The past few years have seen a radical transformation in how consumers are discovering, connecting and engaging with the world. How can retailers and brands use mobile to reach the connected, on the go consumer? How can the latest technologies be harnessed to deliver winning experiences? What is the impact on the bottom line?”
These are the vital question that will drive the debate for the rest of the day.
Showing how this is working in practice is Leif Bode Nielsen, Head of Omni-Channel EMEA, LEGO . The toy maker is going to offer a detailed view of how to reach customers in a world where everyone is bombarded with marketing and social messaging.
“Reaching audiences needs to become smarter to cut through the other clutter fighting for attention,” says Nielsen. “Understanding the series of interactions customers have with brands are helping retailers to reap significant benefits. Why is it necessary for brands to manage the entire customer experience? What are the biggest stumbling blocks to potential success?”
But how do you make this happen? The afternoon sessions kick off with a panel debate Multichannel Integration – Enhancing Customer Experience, Fulfillment and Delivery, featuring Neil Sansom, CEO, Woolovers, Craig Wheeler, Operations Director, feelunique.com , Tony Rivenell, Chief Digital Officer, Halfords , the panel will help you uncover how to actually make this all happen within your business – and on a budget.
Giving the audience something to take away and think about will be Kit Glover, Director of EU Seller Experience, eBay . Mobile has radically changed the way that customers shop and interact with products and services. Gain insight from one of the pioneers of online shopping; how to use mobile to engage your customer and grow your business at home and abroad.
Also on the speaker roster is Joel Freeman, Co-Founder, Grabble, who will be talking about creating rich, user friendly, mobile experiences and how Grabble, in its own words, became “the Tinder for fashionistas”. And there will be interesting presentations from the sessions two sponsors SDL Fredhopper and Monetate.
IRC16 is the 11th conference, and as the event moves into its second decade it focuses on changes in both the way that shoppers buy, and that retailers sell that are likely to come in future.
As well as mobile and customer engagement, the role of marketplaces and international in the future of retail will also come under scrutiny. Speakers hail from retailers and service providers as diverse as Home Retail Group, Urban Outfitters, River Island and Vente Privée, as well as AirBnB.
“Ecommerce professionals, for over a decade at the vanguard of innovation and radical change, are themselves now having to adapt and change as ecommerce is no longer a channel but an equal partner with stores,” said Ian Jindal, editor-in-chief of InternetRetailing.
“For 2016 we’re looking to new horizons that the modern digitally-enabled retailer can scan as we seek to satisfy the demands of the connected, savvy customer.”
The event, to be held at the Novotel, Hammersmith, London, follows directly on from sister event the eDelivery Conference, to be held the previous day, October 11, at the same venue. This event, for retail logistics professionals, focuses on Practicalities, a theme explored through the twin tracks of availability and experience.
“Creating options and providing robust solutions could be the mantra of the multichannel professionals responsible for S-O-L-D – supply chain, operations, logistics and delivery,” said InternetRetailing’s Jindal. “The infrastructural aspects of multichanne retail are creating new capabilities to be turned into customer promises. Our theme for the second annual eDelivery Conference is practicality. Our two tracks, availability and experience, will analyse those much needed practical approaches to fulfil the multichannel promise.”
Speakers from Tesco and feelunique.com are already confirmed at EDC 2016.
For more information about the InternetRetailing and eDelivery conferences click here.


text:
Yanai the main culprit in decline of Uniqlo empire
Who is most to blame for the recent plunge in the stock price of Fast Retailing Co. (operator of the Uniqlo casual clothing store chain)? Investors have likely looked on aghast as Fast Retailing's stock price has fallen by more than half its peak value—previously pegged at more than ¥60,000—in just nine months.
From the time the firm's stock was priced at a record ¥61,970 on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange on July 30 last year, it has been in decline, finally dipping below the ¥40,000 level on Jan. 7, when a drop in revenue for the first quarter from September to November 2015 was reported.
On April 9, the share price dropped rapidly by ¥3,880, or 13 percent, to below the ¥30,000 level, shortly after the company's drastic downward revision of its earnings forecast for the full business year. In terms of total market value, about ¥3.5 trillion vanished during the period.
The chief culprit behind these figures is none other than Tadashi Yanai, president and chairman of Fast Retailing. A pricing strategy introduced by the autocratic leader caused a customer exodus from Uniqlo stores—which has branches around the world—buffeting the business and sending Fast Retailing's stock price into a nosedive.
"The price hike is necessary to retain the quality of our products," Yanai said when he announced a 5-percent price increase in Uniqlo's regular products in 2014, shortly before the autumn and winter retail season got under way.
At that time, more and more companies were boosting workers' wages due to signs of a robust economy on the back of positive effects from Abenomics—Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic policy package—though the yen's value was decreasing and the cost of raw materials were going up; points that were perceived as ill winds for Fast Retailing.
Yanai likely believed the loss of earnings from the pricing policy-induced drop in Uniqlo customers could, to some extent, be offset by higher average sales per customer. And his strategy was successful—for a while. Though the number of customers visiting Uniqlo stores in Japan declined by 2.9 percent in the business year ending in August 2015 compared with the previous term, operating profit was ¥117.2 billion, up 10.3 percent compared with the previous period. This helped First Retailing register a record ¥110 billion in net income.
However, this has changed completely for the current business year set to end in August. Emboldened by his successful pricing increase, Yanai decided on yet another hike the following year, adding an extra 10 percent to price tags in the 2015 retail season for fall and winter goods. Consequently, there were year-on-year decreases in customer numbers for four straight months from last September, while November and December saw a two-digit drop in store visitors. To exacerbate matters, Uniqlo tried to stave off customer defection by holding a surfeit of discount sales. As a result, the prospect of profits deteriorated quickly, a Fast Retailing source said.
The company revised downward its full-year business projection, simultaneously announcing that operating profits in the first half of the business year (September 2015 to February 2016) were only ¥99.3 billion, 34 percent down on the same period the previous business year. Net income dropped 55 percent to ¥47 billion. In the second quarter (December 2015 to February 2016) operating profits were a mere ¥24.6 billion, widening the declining profit margin to 58 percent. Booking ¥21 billion in impairment losses was damaging, and the company moved ¥1 billion into the red, tumbling from a surplus of ¥35.9 billion in the same period the previous business year.
Yanai is still Fast Retailing's biggest shareholder, however, holding 22.98 million shares, or 21.6 percent of the company's issued stock. If Fast Retailing stock held by Netherlands-based asset management firm TTY Management B.V. is included, Yanai owns a total of 28.29 million shares. Yanai has headed Forbes magazine list of Japan's richest people for two consecutive years, but he himself "is estimated roughly to have lost assets equivalent to ¥1 trillion," a well-placed source said, due to the falling stock price. However, it seems Yanai has got his just deserts.
After learning a bitter lesson, the Fast Retailing chief has decided to lower product prices and get back to basics for Uniqlo clothing. He has secured the financial resources necessary to cut prices by heavily restricting the almost-constant discount sales that were introduced to supplement the decline in sales and customer traffic.
According to Yanai, he is once again trying to make customers feel that Uniqlo clothes offer value for money—a view eroded by repeatedly lowering prices—by enforcing a low-cost management policy through a drastic review of the company's cost structure, which he says "has not grown, but just inflated."
However, it may not be so easy to re-engage Uniqlo's former customers. If prices repeatedly yo-yo over a short period of time, consumers will be suspicious about the brand's justification for its pricing, eventually leading consumers to mistrust the Uniqlo name.
Discussing the essence of management, Yanai used to say: "Trust is everything in business. Consistency is important, and if you frequently change opinions and say different things every day, no one will believe you."
But, has he made decisions than run contrary to his credo in the face of a deterioration in earnings and the share-price plunge?
In reality, the company's drastic cost-structure review is a double-edged sword. Yanai likely suffered a heavy blow following repeated public criticism that claimed Uniqlo stores were "sweatshops." Since June 2014, he has made efforts to improve his company's public image, such as by introducing a policy to make 16,000 part-time or temporary store workers into regular employees.
Since damage to the corporate image could easily impact on the brand image—and in light of the fact there was a labor shortage at that time—Yanai may have believed it would be difficult to treat workers as expendable in the future. As a result, however, labor costs gradually climbed. Though revenues increased in the first half of the 2014 business year, the ratio of sales to general and administrative expenses was 32 percent, two percentage points up on a year-on-year comparison—a major cause for the decline in operating profits.
But if Yanai tries to cut labor costs again, it could rekindle public criticism of Fast Retailing as an "exploitative" company.
"At a time when customers are defecting from Uniqlo stores, if the public labels Fast Retailing as a sweatshop, it could kill the company," a market source said. "In the end, Fast Retailing would be like Watami Co.," a once-popular izakaya (Japanese-style pub) chain operator, whose reputation reached rock-bottom after being perceived by the public as a sweatshop firm.
Yanai was born in Ube city, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in 1949. After graduating from the School of Political Science and Economics at prestigious Waseda University, he entered Jusco Co. (presently, Aeon Co.) but quit after only nine months, as the job allegedly did not quite suit him. After freeloading off friends for six months, he returned home and joined Ogori Shoji Co., the predecessor of Fast Retailing founded by his father. In 1984, Yanai became the firm's president. At that time, he opened the first Uniqlo store in Hiroshima city, ushering in the era of Uniqlo's high-speed growth.
After Fast Retailing's successful 1994 listing on the now defunct Hiroshima Stock Exchange, the company proceeded to convert its business into a specialty store retailer for private label apparel (SPA). Following inclusion in the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the company was finally listed in its First Section in 1999.
During this rapid growth period, Yanai often pledged two things: He would retire at the age of 65, and the company's top posts would never be passed on through family succession.
However, Yanai has failed to nurture any successors, purging every would-be president hunted from outside the company. He turned 67 in February, so he has already broken his first pledge. Now it seems increasingly unlikely he will keep his second pledge, according to business sources.
At Yanai's behest, his eldest son Kazumi, who has worked for an investment banking section of the Goldman Sachs Group, joined Fast Retailing and was appointed chairman of Link Theory Japan, a company that deals with a U.S. brand of women's apparel. Kazumi was also made a group corporate officer for Fast Retailing. Thereafter, Yanai had his second son Koji, who had worked for Mitsubishi Corp., Japan's leading trading house, move to Fast Retailing, and awarded him an executive position. "It's conceivable the two sons could assume the posts of president and chairman in the future," said a Fast Retailing source.
Yanai has already made a critical miscalculation in his pricing strategy. If he makes further errors of judgment over his retirement and successors at the company, the Uniqlo empire he has built up the hard way, could come to an abrupt end in just one generation.
This is a translation of an article from the May 2016 issue of Sentaku. The original article can be found here.


text:
With new MacOS update, your login passwords, credit card and other information might be at risk
Patrick Wardle, head of research at Synack, revealed the issue in a video, where he demonstrated code, which apparently extracted passwords through Keychain. This exploit - allows a hacker to steal the contents of a Mac’s Keychain - which stores a number of important passwords, including their login information, credit cards, Wi-Fi passwords and many more. The abuse came, just hours before the Apple was expected to release High Sierra.
Apple hasn’t said anything about it yet, but in typical Apple fashion, they will probably release a new firmware update to patch up this issue. Apparently, Apple has now changed its default search engine for its products from Bing to Google. Bing isn’t completely removed though; image results will still be sourced from Bing.
- Pakistani athlete Najma Parveen finishes last in Tokyo Olympics11:38 PM | 2 Aug, 2021
- Aamir Liaquat spotted rebuking Karachi traffic cop publicly in viral ...11:24 PM | 2 Aug, 2021
- UK court tells Pakistan's NAB to pay billions to Broadsheet by Aug 1310:16 PM | 2 Aug, 2021
- Falak takes Sarah on shopping spree (VIDEO)09:00 PM | 2 Aug, 2021
- Prince Charming - Mahira Khan's first look from upcoming webseries ...05:50 PM | 2 Aug, 2021
- Sharmila Faruqui lashes out at Ayeza Khan’s controversial scene ...05:21 PM | 2 Aug, 2021
- Stars who used apps to find love08:02 PM | 24 Jul, 2021
- World’s most powerful passports in 2021: Where does Pakistan stand?03:35 PM | 7 Jul, 2021
- 16 Pakistani universities among Asia's top 50002:36 PM | 8 Jun, 2021
- Famous figures who survived serious plane incidents07:21 PM | 29 May, 2021